The dream of NXT’s Power Couple shattered today at NXT TakeOver 31 also Toni Storm and Ember Moon makes a return to the NXT. Damian Priest and Gargano puts on one hell of a show tonight, Santos Escobar defended his title against Isaiah “Swerve” Scott that too without the help of Mendoza and Wilde. In the main event Kyle O’Reilly gets his opportunity at glory and he had a technical classic against Finn Balor.
WWE NXT TakeOver 31 Winners and Losers
1. Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano Singles Match for NXT North American Championship
Winner – Damian Priest
Loser – Johnny Gargano
Damian Priest misses a right hand. Johnny Gargano forces Priest into the corner and lands a few strikes. Gargano hits the ropes and runs right into a leg lariat by Priest. Priest jacks Gargano’s jaw with a right hand. Gargano drops like a sack of bricks. Gargano almost locks in the Gargano Escape on Priest but Priest counters it and almost hits the Reckoning in response but Gargano dodges it.
Damian Priest lands a straight kick to Johnny Gargano’s chest that sends him flying across the ring. Priest ends up on the apron. Gargano dropkicks Priest in the knee. Gargano whips Priest off the apron. Priest hits the floor hard. Suicide dive by Gargano. Priest hits the chain-link barricade in the newly christened Capitol Wrestling Center. Gargano sends Priest into the ring steps.
At the end of this match, Johnny Gargano puts Damian Priest in the Gargano Escape but Priest reaches the ropes. Gargano tries to knock Priest off the apron onto the ring steps. Gargano lands two superkicks. Gargano tries his slingshot DDT but Priest manages to put on the breaks. Priest hits a hangman’s version of the Reckoning pinning Gargano for the win and retaining his NXT North American Championship.
2. The Velveteen Dream vs. Kushida Singles Match
Winner – The Velveteen Dream
Loser – Kushida
Velveteen Dream makes an entry dressed as Doc Brown from Back to the Future. Kushida attacks Dream as he was making his entrance. When the bell finally rings Kushida immediately goes for the Hoverboard Lock but Dream fights to the ropes. Kushida handspring kick Dream while he was on the apron. Kushida drops all of his weight on Dream’s arm. Kushida puts Dream in a modified Rings of Saturn. Kushida slams Dream’s arm into the mat. Dream boots Kushida in the face and tosses him to the outside. Dream drops an axhandle off the top to Kushida. Bronco Buster by Dream.
Speaking of the ending of this match, Velveteen Dream floors Kushida with a lariat. Dream goes up top again, but Kushida gets to his feet. Kushida hops up to the top rope. Kushida lands a flying Hoverboard Lock! Dream tries to get to the ropes but Kushida pulls him back to the sent. Dream picks up Kushida and hits another DVD. Kushida holds on and wrenches in the Hoverboard Lock even tighter after which Dream tapped out.
After the match ends, Kushida puts Velveteen Dream in another armbar. Referees pull Kushida off of Dream. Kushida attacks Dream again. Raining down rights and lefts. Kushida puts Dream in a cross arm breaker. Dream cries as he tapped again. Kushida finally leaves after which the referees check on Dream.
3. Santos Escobar (c) vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott Singles Match for Cruiserweight Championship
Winner – Santos Escobar
Loser – Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Santos Escobar walks down the ramp and he tells Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde to head to the back. Escobar hits a ranna but Isaiah Scott lands on his feet. Escobar and Scott trade multiple pin attempts. Scott sends Escobar to the outside followed by a dive by Scott. Scott goes up top and lands a twisting senton to the outside, flattening Escobar. Scott goes back into the ring as Escobar gets to his feet. Scott hits a Fosbury flop. Scott bends Escobar’s arm around the turnbuckle.
In the final moments of this Cruiserweight Championship match, Santos Escobar hits the three amigos. Escobar goes up top and misses the frog splash. Isaiah Scott snaps Escobar’s arm back. Scott hits the House Call followed by a 450 splash! Escobar kicks out at 2.9! Scott and Escobar fight on the apron. Escobar kicks Scott into an exposed turnbuckle. Scott looks to be out cold. Escobar hits a double under hook driver pinning Scott the win and retaining the title.
4. Io Shirai (c) vs. Candice LeRae Singles Match for NXT Women’s Championship
Winner – Io Shirai
Loser – Candice LeRae
During this match Io Shirai attempted her moonsault on Candice LeRae but LeRae gets her knees up in time. Shirai was sent into the referee and referee falls out of the ring. LeRae hits the Wicked Step Sister. Johnny Gargano runs down to the ring with a referee shirt on to count the fall but Shirai still kicks out. A real referee runs down to the ring. Gargano hands LeRae the Women’s Championship. As Gargano argues with the referee, LeRae hits Shirai with the title. Shirai kicks out! LeRae goes up top. Shirai cuts LeRae off and crushes her with a top rope Spanish fly. Shirai lands the Over the Moonsault pinning LeRae the win and retains her title.
Post match, Toni Storm appears on the Tron and says she is back in NXT and coming for Shirai and the title. A motorcycle pulls up to the arena. The person riding gets out and enters the arena. The rider walks out on the stage wearing a helmet. The person removes the helmet to reveal, Ember Moon!
5. Finn Bálor (c) vs. Kyle O’Reilly Singles Maatch for NXT Championship
Winner – Finn Balor
Loser – Kyle O’Reilly
It was a very long match and a technical classic in many aspects. At the end of this match, Kyle O’Reilly wraps up both Finn Bálor’s legs. Bálor gets to the bottom rope. O’Reilly tries a kick but Bálor drops to his knees. O’Reilly hesitates, which allows Bálor to double leg him and hits a double foot stomp. Bálor goes to the corner. O’Reilly charges in and hits a knee strike. Bálor hits another double stomp. Bálor was bleeding from his mouth as well. Bálor hits the Coup de Grâce on O’Reilly pinning him for the win and successfully retaining the NXT Championship.
After the match ends, Finn Bálor helps Kyle O’Reilly up. The two shake hands. Ridge Holland was standing in the crowd with Adam Cole knocked out over his shoulder. Holland drops Cole over the barricade. Bobby Fish, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly checked on Cole.
WWE NXT TaakeOver 31 All Segments Updates
1. Backstage, Ashanti thee Adonis says he it’s all about him and its showtime.
2. Backstage, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Bobby Fish wishes Kyle O’Reilly luck for his NXT Championship match against Finn Balor.